Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-18
RENDER UNTO CESAR,

| RENOEH ONIO oar San.
The value ofa!newgpapers as factors in de-
veloping states and sc ctions Ia forcibiy Illus
trated by the results obtained by the Fort
Worth GAZETTE in regard 10 immigration to
| this state. THE GAZETTE took hold of ques-
| ton that had lain dormant for years, and in a
| short time aroused the great stste of Texas to
action. The result Is that a meeting will be
held at Dallas on the Goth, to organize state
| immigration society, and the probability Is that
nearly every county IN the state will be repre-
seated. The good that may result to the state
by this organization Is not matter of specula-
| ton, but too boundless to attempt an enumera-
| ton. TIE GAZETTE Is solely responsible for
the move. and to 1t should the honor be given.
l-[Hillsboro Mirror.
While THE GAZETTE is duly grateful
for all appreciation of any Of its efforts in
behalf Of Texas, simple justice to another
demands an explanation Of the origin Of
the agitation that has so aroused the
whole state of Texas, now that this paper
is thus publicly accorded the sole credit
When the contemplated formation of q
Texas pool was announced in 1885, Mr..
John Howard, then sgent Of the Bee
Line, wrote to THE GAZETTE predicting
the effect of such pool on. Texas immigra-
ton. THE GAZETTE printed Mr.. How
ards letters and editorially besought the
roads not to "suarantine Texas" by the
destruction of competition. Mr.. Howard
sought in that year to interest certain
other newspapers in the agitation, but
failed. The effort in 1885 fell stillborn.
Mr.. Howard and THE GAzETTEl failed to
impress and arouse the people, and short
ly afterwards he left the Bee Line and
entered the service OF the Mobile and
Ohio, but never ceased to urge the need
of some action by the people of Texas.
During the past month, the editor of
THE GAZETTE was IN correspondence
with on eastern gentleman who contem-
plated visit to Texas, and who inquired
if there were not return tickets to Texas
sold in eastern points as we'll as to Cali
fornis. THE GAZETTE editor referred the
inquiry to q Fort Worth ticket agent,
who said such tickets were sold in the
east, and the eastern gentleman was SO
informed. He, however, replied by en-
closing note to himself from ticket
agent in Boston, saying that no return
tickets were sold to Texas and that
the rate to Fort Worth was
something over $40. The day after the
receipt of this letter Mr.. Howard was in
THE GAZETTE sanctum during one of his
periodical visits to the state and WAS in
terrogated as to excursion, tourists and
other round trip tickets to Texas from
outside points; and the result of this in
quiry was an editorial in TEE GAZETTE
calling public attention to the discrimi-
nation in favor OF California. The people
were impressed, because they had been
watching for months not only the "Cali-
fornia craze" but the depletion of Texas
by Texas railroads with no corresponding
inducement by the roads in behalf of
Texas.
The movement has now attained state
proportions, and no town or newspaper
or individual should seek to claim unde-
served credit. John Howard, who has
done as much for the state as any man in
Texas, according to his means, has been
sgitating this question since
1885, when he and TIE GAZETTE
so signslly failed to arouse the
people; and, while chance correspond
ence of THE GAZETTE led to the inquiry
concerning round trip tickets, John How
ard is really entitled to all the credit for the
agitation that now promises to result in
CREST good to the whole state. Dallas is
to be highly commended for its quick
perception of the popular pulse, and for
its practical and energetic response to the
agitation 80 long persisted in by John
Howard, and at this time received
through q chance correspondence Of The
GAZETTE.
The result of the Dallas meeting is OF
far more importance to the state than the
origin of the agitation that led up to it.
and mention is made Of the latter only
becsuse THE GAZETTE is indisposed to
remain silent when accredited with praise
due to another.